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7550 Sunwood Drive NW • Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 <br />City Hall: 763-427-1410 • Fax: 763-427-5543 <br />www.ci.ramsey.mn.us <br />October 1, 2014 <br />Re: City of Ramsey Review Comments — Draft 2040 Transportation Policy Plan <br />To whom it may concern: <br />Thank you for the opportunity to review the draft 2040 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP). Upon <br />completing our review, the City of Ramsey offers the following comments for your <br />consideration. <br />During our review the City did not identify anything in the draft 2040 TPP that significantly <br />conflicts with the goals of the City. However, we feel the draft TPP may not accurately reflect <br />growth forecasts for the area, and that the draft TPP does not focus enough on addressing project <br />needs in the northwest metro, including projects needed on the U.S. Highway 10 corridor <br />through the City of Ramsey to supplement existing conditions, current studies, and the Northstar <br />Commuter Rail. <br />While the City understands the importance of investing in all modes of transportation, we feel <br />the demand for infrastructure supporting the different modes varies significantly based on <br />location and population densities. Due to our location in suburban Anoka County, we are <br />focusing much of our transportation priorities on motorized modes of transportation, especially <br />highways and freight. When considering that 75% of all intercity freight is moved by trucks on <br />highways, we believe it is in the best interests of the City to place a higher priority on highways <br />and freight to better support the region's economic sustainability. Until we are able to reduce <br />congestion on Highway 10 to attract more employers to the City and the surrounding areas, the <br />need for additional improvements to support non -motorized modes of transportation will be less <br />than the need for improvements to support motorized vehicles. <br />The City of Ramsey has three primary regional transportation priorities as follows, which are <br />listed below in order of priority. <br />1. U.S. Highway 10 <br />2. State Highway 47 <br />3. Future Mississippi River crossing between Ramsey and Dayton <br />The City's top regional transportation priority is to increase mobility and safety on Highway 10. <br />In support of this goal, the City is working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation <br />(MnDOT) and Anoka County to replace the existing at -grade intersection at Highway 10 and <br />Anoka County State Aid Highway 83/Armstrong Boulevard with a grade -separated. interchange. <br />The City is also participating in the current Highway 10 Access Planning Study through the <br />Wage <br />